4 tips for running a successful Bar

Image credit: Helena Yankovska from Unsplash

From a small wine bar with a limited number of seats to a larger bar that welcomes all and serves a wide range of drinks, there is an art to keeping your customers loyal and your business afloat. 

The hospitality industry usually gets hit hard with economic issues. Still, there are many things that you can do to keep your customers happy and set yourself apart from the rest.

Stocked
When you talk about the stock, you might be thinking just about the alcohol stored in your perfectly designed refrigerator installed by expert refrigeration services. But it is more than that. It is your job to think about all of the small things too. 

• Napkins
  
• Glasses
  
• Stirrers and straws
  
• Bar snacks
  
• Garnishes - lemons, limes, cherries, olives, and more
  

Where possible, it is a good idea to make sure that you are licensed for food so that even if your main focus is as a wine bar, you can make something light when people get hungry. 

Cocktails 
Some cocktails have stood the test of time, and you can buy them in any bar. Although the quality might vary, the premise of the cocktail is the same. 

So, while having a set cocktail menu is important, you can add something unique to your menu. 

Something to keep in mind about signature cocktails is that you can have them set at a more exclusive price since they aren't available anywhere else. And although they might contain the same alcohol as some of the classics - the final product is unique. 

Cater your custom cocktail to the area that you are in; for example, for a high-end location, you’ll want something with a refined finish that feels and tastes luxurious. Yet, if you are situated within a high student population, they typically want cheaper drinks. 

Experiment with some mixes and find the right one for you. 

Events
If a glass of white wine costs $7 everywhere, then people will go to the closest option with seats in most cases. There is no reason to go further unless you offer something that others don’t. 

Happy hour, ladies hour, BOGOF, or even tasting menus can be your ticket to having all of your seats filled every night of the week. And don’t discount those Sunday evenings either. 

Events might seem gimmicky, but they have a long history of working well and can be used on the nights that you usually find you have a quiet bar. You might also notice that you get a different set of clientele on those evenings and open up a new market for yourself. 

Staff
You can’t expect your staff to be happy and sparkly all the time - but if you hire the right bar staff, you’ll notice that they have a friendly quality about them. Even on a night, they’re not feeling their best; the customers will be happy to order from them. 

To get the best staff, you will make sure they are protected from the characters at the bar that get a bit much, that there are regular perks, and that any concerns are addressed quickly. 

And perhaps the most important thing is the leadership that you show. To do your best, here are some tips: Being a leader is more than just “skills” - LEARN DEVELOP LIVE.